Living safely with Covid

After a tremendously difficult two years there will be relief for many that life can return to normal, but local health chiefs are reminding residents that there are people with underlying conditions who are at risk of severe illness from COVID.

There are also still concerns that the protection offered by the vaccine could wane and dangerous new variants could appear, while the chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's Adults and Health Committee has also expressed concern about the reduction in testing and is calling for continued vigilance by local people.

For these reasons, local health chiefs have outlined a list of simple and easy to follow measures to help keep everyone as safe as possible from catching the virus and potentially becomingly seriously ill.

The measures include:

• Avoid going to the workplace (work from home if possible) or meeting other people, if you have symptoms
• Please continue testing over the next month as case rates are high in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough especially if you are visiting vulnerable people or have symptoms
• Making sure indoor spaces are well ventilated (for example, by opening a window) and that there is an efficient flow of people in and out
• Letting people know they can use face coverings or screens if that is what they wish to do
• Regular hand washing and use of hand sanitiser which will help combat the spread of Covid as well as other infections
• Continuing regular cleaning of surfaces
• Getting two doses of a Covid vaccine, and the booster.

Jyoti Atri, director of public health at Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, said: "It has been a long and painful two years, so it is only right that after all the sacrifices made people make the most of the spring and summer months.

"At the moment, due to the vaccine, Covid is not causing the level of harm that we have seen with previous waves, although it is still a risk to vulnerable people and we need to be prepared if this situation changes due to immunity waning or a new and dangerous variant."

Cllr Richard Howitt, chair of Cambridgeshire County Council's Adults and Health Committee, said: "I remain concerned that the impact of reduced testing could jeopardise the progress made and make it more difficult to identify new variants. The scientific evidence to support these decision has not been published in advance.

"I hope local people will choose to continue to isolate where they have symptoms, use face masks and take-up all opportunities for vaccination. The county council is deeply grateful to all our staff, the volunteers and local residents who have helped us get to this stage and we ask for continued vigilance by all of us to continue."

Further information on the Government announcement can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-response-living-with-covid-19

Anyone yet to get both doses of a Covid vaccine, or their booster, can find out where they can jabbed at: https://www.thevaccinators.co.uk/.

Details on how to obtain lateral flow tests can be found at: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-rapid-community-testing.

Article date: February 2022